Monday, August 29, 2011
Hope for Main Street?
Northwest Blvd has a dozen old strip malls and buildings. I always look at them when I pass on foot or by bus, but don't pay close attention unless forced.
Today I noticed something unique. All of the strip malls and buildings are fully occupied with running businesses. This culminates a gradual positive trend. Four years ago, when the national "economy" as measured by the Mafia Dick Erection Index (Dow) was pumping at max height, these malls were nearly empty.
You can be sure many of the new businesses will fail, but that's always true of strip malls. That's why we have strip malls.
The important thing is, those malls were 80% empty through most of the 20 years I've lived here. Now they're full of hopeful activity.
Something good is happening here.
= = = = =
Later: Looks like someone else is also noticing this neighborhood renaissance!
I'm also noticing some new construction closer to home. This didn't happen during the boom years; lots of speculative remodeling, but no built-from-scratch houses.
Thinking about this, probably overthinking:
During boom times people think like adolescents. Seek new frontiers, try for the moon, evaluate things on the basis of fantasy numbers instead of actual usability.
In bust times people think like adults. Seek comfort, evaluate things on the basis of real enjoyment and utility.
Booms create new subdivisions, home equity loans, and grandiose malls on vacant land with no certain value. Booms suck the life out of older areas.
Busts rediscover strip malls and fill in safe and comfy old neighborhoods.
It's a theory, anyway!
[A sequel here.]
¶ 8:49 AM
Today I noticed something unique. All of the strip malls and buildings are fully occupied with running businesses. This culminates a gradual positive trend. Four years ago, when the national "economy" as measured by the Mafia Dick Erection Index (Dow) was pumping at max height, these malls were nearly empty.
You can be sure many of the new businesses will fail, but that's always true of strip malls. That's why we have strip malls.
The important thing is, those malls were 80% empty through most of the 20 years I've lived here. Now they're full of hopeful activity.
Something good is happening here.
= = = = =
Later: Looks like someone else is also noticing this neighborhood renaissance!
I'm also noticing some new construction closer to home. This didn't happen during the boom years; lots of speculative remodeling, but no built-from-scratch houses.
Thinking about this, probably overthinking:
During boom times people think like adolescents. Seek new frontiers, try for the moon, evaluate things on the basis of fantasy numbers instead of actual usability.
In bust times people think like adults. Seek comfort, evaluate things on the basis of real enjoyment and utility.
Booms create new subdivisions, home equity loans, and grandiose malls on vacant land with no certain value. Booms suck the life out of older areas.
Busts rediscover strip malls and fill in safe and comfy old neighborhoods.
It's a theory, anyway!
[A sequel here.]
¶ 8:49 AM
